Chemistry, BCH | University of Alabama

Students pursuing a degree in chemistry typically have interests in science and/or the health professions. This degree is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and results in an ACS-certified degree in chemistry or biochemistry. Chemistry graduates have strong credentials to pursue graduate degrees in chemistry or related fields, health professional programs, or careers in industry.

Admission into the Major

Students are expected to formally declare a major no later than the fourth semester of full-time enrollment (or at 61 semester hours for transfer students). Students can declare a major by completing the Change of Major/Minor Application online under the Student tab of myBama.

Special Opportunities

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Honors Program is available to students pursuing the BCh degree in the chemistry or biochemistry concentration. To participate in the chemistry honors program, students must complete the course requirements for either concentration of the BCh degree and meet the following requirements:

Maintain a 3.30 GPA in chemistry courses, with no more than one C, and a 3.0 cumulative GPA
Complete one semester of CH 493 Honors Research Sem or CH 494 Honors Research Sem with a grade of B– or better
Complete at least one semester of CH 396 Undergrad Research, CH 398 Undergrad Research, or CH 399 Undergrad Research
Complete one semester of CH 497 Intro To Research, CH 498 Intro To Research, or CH 499 Intro To Research with a grade of B– or higher. This course should be taken with the same research mentor as the CH 396/398/399 course and would typically be taken in the final semester while writing the senior thesis
Submit an acceptable senior thesis based on research conducted under the supervision of a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Students are invited to apply for admission to the Chemistry Honors Program on the basis of performance in introductory chemistry courses. Students may apply online using the chemistry honors application. Contact the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry director of undergraduate studies for more details.

The department sponsors several student organizations, including the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society, the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, and Gamma Sigma Epsilon (the national chemistry honorary).

Pre-health Professional Preparation

Students completing any of the chemistry degree options will have fulfilled all chemistry, math, and physics requirements for admission to pre-health professional programs (medical, dental, optometry, pharmacy, veterinary, etc., schools). With the addition of appropriate biological sciences electives, students earning the BCh degrees will have met all math and science requirements for pre-health professional programs.

Undergraduate Research

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers two undergraduate research courses designed to provide students with a hands-on experience at the forefront of chemistry. These courses include:

Code and Title		Hours
CH 396	Undergrad Research	1-3
CH 398	Undergrad Research	1-3
CH 399	Undergrad Research	1-3
CH 497	Intro To Research	1-3
CH 498	Intro To Research	1-3
CH 499	Intro To Research	1-3

In each course, students work directly with a faculty member on a research project. Chemistry majors and minors and students with an interest in chemistry are encouraged to become involved in undergraduate research through these courses. Students should receive approval from the faculty mentor before registering for a research course. Students may find descriptions of faculty research interests on the Department of Chemistry website. Students may contact potential research mentors directly or seek advice on possible mentors from their academic advisors.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites for all CH courses at the 300- and 400-level must be passed with a minimum grade of C-.

Students earning the bachelor of science in chemistry (BCh) degree must complete all University, College and departmental degree requirements. These include the general education requirements, the following major requirements chosen from one of two tracks, and other sufficient credits to total a minimum of 120 applicable semester hours.

Degree Tracks

The ACS-certified degree tracks in chemistry and biochemistry provide thorough preparation for students interested in pursuing careers in chemistry, biochemistry or related fields (e.g., biomedicine, forensics, toxicology and environmental science); pursuing graduate studies in chemistry or related fields; or enrolling in a health professions school (MD, DDS, PharmD or DVM) upon graduation.

Grade Point Average

A 2.0 grade point average in the major is required for completion of the degree. Please see the Grades and Grade Points section of this catalog for an explanation on grade point average calculations.

Upper-level Residency

A minimum of 18 hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be earned on this campus.

Required Minor

The BCH degree (chemistry and biochemistry tracks) does not require a minor.

Additional Major Requirements

Students are responsible for ensuring that they have met all University, College, major, and minor requirements. However, each student must meet with an adviser in the major department for academic planning and to be approved for registration each semester. College advisers are also available for additional assistance with minor, College and University requirements.

Major Courses

The bachelor of science in chemistry degree requires the successful completion of one of either the chemistry track (41 semester hours) or the biochemistry biochemistry track (43 hours).

Chemistry Track

Code and Title		Hours
CH 101 or	General Chemistry	4
CH 117	Honors General Chemistry
CH 102 or	General Chemistry	4
CH 118	Honors General Chemistry
CH 223	Quantitative Analysis	4
CH 231	Elem Organic Chemistry I	3
CH 232 & CH 237	Elem Organic Chem II and Elem Organic Chem Lab	5
CH 338	Elem Organic Chem Lab II	2
CH 413	Inorganic Chemistry	4
CH 441	Physical Chemistry I	3
CH 442	Physical Chemistry II	3
CH 448	Physical Chemistry Lab	2
CH 424	Instrumental Analysis	4
CH 461	Biochemistry I	3
Credit Hours Subtotal:		41
Ancillary Courses
Grades in ancillary courses are not computed into the major GPA. The major in chemistry culminating in the BCh degree requires the successful completion of the following courses outside the major:
MATH 125 or	Calculus I	4
MATH 145	Honors Calculus I
MATH 126 or	Calculus II	4
MATH 146	Honors Calculus II
MATH 227 or	Calculus III	4
MATH 247	Honors Calculus III
PH 105 or	General Physics W/Calc I	4
PH 125	Honors Gen Ph W/Calculus
PH 106 or	General Physics W/Calc II	4
PH 126	Honors Gen Ph W/Calculus II
Total Hours		61

Biochemistry Track

Code and Title		Hours
CH 101 or	General Chemistry	4
CH 117	Honors General Chemistry
CH 102 or	General Chemistry	4
CH 118	Honors General Chemistry
CH 223	Quantitative Analysis	4
CH 231	Elem Organic Chemistry I	3
CH 232 & CH 237	Elem Organic Chem II and Elem Organic Chem Lab	5
CH 338	Elem Organic Chem Lab II	2
CH 413	Inorganic Chemistry	4
CH 441	Physical Chemistry I	3
CH 442	Physical Chemistry II	3
CH 448	Physical Chemistry Lab	2
CH 461	Biochemistry I	3
CH 462	Biochemistry II	3
CH 463	Biochemistry Laboratory	3
Credit Hours Subtotal:		43
Ancillary Courses
Grades in ancillary courses are not computed into the major GPA. The major in chemistry culminating in the BCh degree requires the successful completion of the following courses outside the major:
MATH 125 or	Calculus I	4
MATH 145	Honors Calculus I
MATH 126 or	Calculus II	4
MATH 146	Honors Calculus II
MATH 227 or	Calculus III	4
MATH 247	Honors Calculus III
PH 105 or	General Physics W/Calc I	4
PH 125	Honors Gen Ph W/Calculus
PH 106 or	General Physics W/Calc II	4
PH 126	Honors Gen Ph W/Calculus II
Total Hours		63

The BCh degree prepares students for a wide range of career opportunities in chemistry and biochemistry, as well as related sciences (toxicology, forensics, environmental science). The BCh degree also prepares students for careers in medical fields.

Types of Jobs Accepted

Recent graduates have gone on to enroll in graduate programs in chemistry, biochemistry, or related fields of science. These students often pursue careers in academia (high school and college teachers) or as researchers in the chemical industry or government labs. Chemistry graduates also enroll in health professional programs leading to careers as doctors, pharmacists, dentists, and veterinarians. Chemistry graduates also take jobs directly after graduating working in the chemical industry as technicians or quality control scientists, as high school teachers, or in related fields where they can use their chemistry background, such as pharmaceutical sales, patent law, or technical writing.

Jobs of Experienced Alumni

academic careers, physicians, dentists, pharmacists, industrial researchers, entrepreneurs

Learn more about opportunities in this field at the Career Center